Day 53: Sun Room

[gald_digger]

When the intercom came on to announce the shift change, the feeling of dread returned. Anise had calmed down considerably since the morning, and she felt more ready to discuss the previous night with Ilia... but not as ready as she wanted to be.

Since the Music Room was bound to be noisy and crowded, Anise opted for the Sun Room instead, hoping that Ilia would come to the same conclusion. She took a seat on one side of a couch in the middle of the room, and waited there. If Ilia didn't show up after a while, she'd go try the Music Room.

Even though this talk had been on her mind all day, Anise still didn't know what she would say. And if she explained the truth behind her shadow's words last night... what would Ilia think? On the one hand, Ilia had shown herself to be a compassionate person, and it was hard to picture her treating Anise differently. But on the other hand, Anise hadn't known Ilia that long... and Ilia was a soldier. She would understand the gravity of Anise's actions, and the sorts of consequences that usually waited for people like her.

With these worries weighing on her mind, Anise leaned against the arm of the couch as she waited.

[For Ilia.]

Comments

[witchoftruth]

Erika nodded, digesting that little bit. Now that she had this extra information, maybe she was looking in the wrong direction; maybe the location meant nothing. Erika had been thinking that the location of each patient determined the strength of the illusion, but perhaps there was another important factor in that. Erika also felt the slightest twinge of respect for Xemnas, who caught onto her theory almost immediately. What a smart man! She really had to make sure he didn't disappear like Momo, lest she lose another good piece on this board.

... Of course, the nature of his question hit a little too close to home for Erika, so the detective didn't quite bother to hide her expression of displeasure. But she supposed she should reward Xemnas for being sharp, and perhaps he could offer his own theories about the shadows.

"Tch... < Very good >, you're sharp. My shadow in particular actually touched me and restrained me from moving." Erika held up her arm, flexing her wrist to show the bruises that remained from the shadow's grip. They didn't hurt too much, but was a physical reminder of what happened, along with Sync's face. "My companion, on the other hand... well, if I could show you his face, you'd know, but we had an agreement. I can't speak much for him." It wasn't so much that Erika really wanted to protect Sync's worthless honor, but she wasn't going to break their agreement for nothing. It didn't really matter, as Erika could prove herself that her shadow actually touched her.

"As for what the shadows said... It was personal information, meant to demoralize us, I guess. The important thing was that it was information about our lives that I, at least, didn't share with anyone else. Get it?" The obvious conclusion was that Landel knew quite a bit about them already, and had used it against them... Some of them anyway. "It seems like Landel-san has done his homework on some of us. I'm very impressed, actually."

Erika fixed her gaze at Xemnas once more, wondering briefly if the reason Xemnas hadn't actually encountered his "shadow" was because Landel didn't have anything to use against him. Or maybe he wasn't important enough to bother in the first place. She had a bit of trouble believing that last bit, but she supposed she'd find out soon enough.

[itneverwas.livejournal.com]

The visible displeasure at what had been a rather blunt question made no difference to Xemnas, for he still required these pieces of information. Fortunately, Erika was willing to grant him these answers.

"Personal information, demoralization...." he echoed, repeating the words to no one in particular. "Showing things one wishes to ignore. I see. It is hardly surprising, then." The corners of his lips curled up in what appeared to be a glimmer of amusement.

Erika's confirmation along with the announcements on the intercom were enough, enough for the Superior to grasp its meaning of tonight's phenomenon. To understand why many others had been shaken by it, and to understand why his own shadow had never succeeded in emerging from the wall. As a being who teetered upon the nothingness in-between, there were no insecurities, no information that could be unveiled yo rattle him. And rattling appeared to be the phenomenon's sole purpose.

Landel had tried, but he had failed.

He returned his attention to the girl seated beside him. "The exploiting of one's weaknesses, one's insecurities, to expose what should not be exposed - Indeed, one would require an extended knowledge about one's existence to accomplish such a remarkable feat. Very good," he spoke, nodding in agreement. "One might wonder how he would learn of things he was never meant to know, to do all that he did."

[witchoftruth]

Xemnas didn't fail to live up to her expectations, and that's when Erika made up her mind about him. When he asked how Landel might have learned all of that, she was silent for a second, and then nodded. Well, there was one way she could figure that out, and she was going to present that idea to him. It would be easier with Xemnas, since he had already accompanied her down to the basement once before... he probably already knew what she was talking about.

"We could ask Landel-san himself... if Momo was correct."

Indeed, she had been toying with the idea of going down to the basement sometime ago, but last night's events bumped up her interest. Once she learned enough about that trick... what better way to solve it than approaching Landel himself to smash it apart? Yes, she really wanted to do that now, which meant she had to pursue the only lead she had to getting to him.

"The reason we all went down to the basement in the first place was because Momo had heard it was a way to meet Landel-san in person. I think we can still pursue that, don't you think? After all, we have all of the knowledge that we need about that place." They could have even gotten the artifacts back from Raine, whether the woman wanted to give them up or not... But to tell the truth, Erika didn't want to do that. She didn't just want to gain an instant audience with Landel-san, she wanted to solve every riddle that he threw out of her and then use that to destroy his gameboard. In that sense, it'd be counterproductive to just run straight to him.

Besides, she was admittedly still a little disappointed that they didn't get farther in that place. Erika was more interested in seeing all of it, and she already had the cooperation of one...

"What do you think, Xemnas?"

[itneverwas.livejournal.com]

With her words, Erika had successfully captured the Superior's interest.

Xemnas had heard of those who had supposedly met the head doctor in person. Was this how they had accomplished such a feat? The basement held the key? He had already wanted to go down to the basement once more, to learn of its secrets, but this vital piece of information made the area below their feet so much more important.

How convenient...

"You have neglected to mention this earlier," he commented, though the manner in which the words were spoken indicated that he was anything but offended (even if he lacked the ability to experience such a useless emotion to begin with). "This makes the basement even more worthy of an investigation than it had already been. Very well, you have my interest."

[witchoftruth]

"My apologies." No harm done, as far as she could tell, so Erika didn't bother even trying to make her apology genuine. Something told her that Xemnas really didn't care about that... and a lot of other things, for that matter. But she could worry about that later, because now she had officially grabbed the third member of their group. One more, and they would be able to finally tackle the basmenet's mysteries. It was good to have such cooperative allies in a place like this... Even without the murder doll and her lackeys, Erika knew she'd be able to compensate.

"< Good! > I already have another person coming with us, so I only need to find one more person. I already have a few in mind, so I'll make sure to inform you both about that." She didn't bother volunteering any information about Sync, since Erika figured it was irrelevant. She would introduce everyone once the group was gathered and as long as they refrained from killing each other until the basement's mysteries were solved, then Erika could care less about making sure everyone got along.

"When is a good time to begin? Do you have anything important to do?" As she wanted everyone's full concentration on this mission, Erika thought it would be best to give everyone time to wrap up whatever meaningless activities or such and inform everyone they knew that they would be busy.

[itneverwas.livejournal.com]

"So you have seized the initiative and began gathering the necessary number of people already. Very good," Xemnas commented, nodding in approval. He did not mind taking a more awaiting approach while another took these necessary measures; for now it was the most convenient, the most efficient way to go about these matters. In her obvious desire to accomplish things, Erika was a more useful girl than he had anticipated. "Then, I trust you will inform me in due time."

Whoever these people were was indeed of no immediate relevance just yet, especially when one member of their group was not yet a certainty. Xemnas cared little about whoever she would decide to bring along, as long as they were capable of completing this mission.

The question that followed was one that may have been expected. "I have an appointment the night after the next," he answered. "However, the results of this appointment should be convenient for us."

[witchoftruth]

[ dklsajdl sorry for the really late post LMFAO ;; ]

If there was one way to make Erika happy, it was letting her work without getting in the way. Xemnas's passive attitude, then, was very appreciated. Most probably would have found it a little aggravating, but Erika's idea of "teamwork" was everyone doing what she told them to do. In that case, Xemnas served his purpose very well. Though she was wondering what kind of appointment he had tomorrow....

Well, if she wanted to know, then there was one way to find out. She already had his cooperation with everything else, so her request shouldn't have been too troublesome to take.

"Is that so? Then you wouldn't mind if I went with you, right? I'm wondering what you have arranged." Perhaps it was a bit telling that Erika wasn't exactly keen on the idea of that Xemnas might be getting information that he might not want to share immediately. While the two of them often corresponded with each other, Erika wasn't about to just trust that Xemnas would report everything of importance to her. She always approached him, after all, not the other way around. So she would have to be the one to take initiative here too.

[itneverwas.livejournal.com]

[No worries! <3]

Xemnas' purpose was not to make Erika happy; it was simply the most efficient manner available to take the preparations for this mission. Interfering would have the unintended effect, so the Superior would allow her this responsibility, even if his own approach would be a more passive one...for now.

As for his appointment; perhaps it would serve more benefit than harm to allow the young detective to accompany him on that night. After all, had he not claimed he had wished to protect comrades under that false name?

"As perceptive as you are, I trust you have already heard of those with the ability to craft weapons?" he spoke. It wasn't a question, more of an assumption, an expectation. "You are welcome to come along and observe, as long as you do not interfere in any manner. I, too, am interested how they will accomplish such a feat."